Marseille v Lille barred from 20:45 slot on 22 March over election risks | OneFootball

According to L'Équipe, Marseille v Lille will not be scheduled for 20:45 on Sunday 22 March because of possible disturbances linked to the municipal elections, with the LFP instead seeking approval for a 17:15 start.

The LFP set out the matchday 27 programme on Wednesday afternoon, assigning eight fixtures, but Marseille v Lille was left pending, initially earmarked as the main Sunday night slot on Ligue 1+.

With Lille playing their Europa League second leg on Thursday 19 March against Aston Villa, the game can only be staged on the Sunday. The league has proposed a 17:15 kick-off alongside Rennes v Metz and Paris FC v Le Havre, all on Ligue 1+.

Officials are being asked to sign off that plan, which would see full time roughly one hour before polling stations close.

The second round of voting is that day, with results due at 20:00, and the campaign in Marseille has been tense. A recent Ifop-Fiducial poll for La Provence, LCI and Sud Radio put Benoît Payan on 35% first-round intentions, Franck Allisio on 32%, Martine Vassal on 18% and Sébastien Delogu on 13%.

Elsewhere on 22 March, Lyon v Monaco is set for 15:00 on beIN Sports. The scheduled evening match is Nantes v Strasbourg at 20:45 on Ligue 1+.

Source: L'Équipe